Synopsis:Civil war rages as the Galactic
Alliance–led by Cal Omas and the Jedi forces of Luke
Skywalker–battles a confederation of breakaway planets
that rally to the side of rebellious Corellia. Suspected
of involvement in an assassination plot against Queen
Mother Tenel Ka of the Hapes Consortium, Han and Leia
Solo are on the run, hunted by none other than their own
son, Jacen, whose increasingly authoritarian tactics as
head of GA security have led Luke and Mara Skywalker to
fear that their nephew may be treading perilously close
to the dark side.
But as his family sees in Jacen the chilling legacy of
his Sith grandfather, Darth Vader, many of the frontline
troops adore him, and countless citizens see him as a
savior. The galaxy has been torn apart by too many wars.
All Jacen wants is safety and stability for all–and he’s
prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.
To end the bloodshed and suffering, what sacrifice would
be too great? That is the question tormenting Jacen.
Already he has sacrificed much, embracing the pitiless
teachings of Lumiya, the Dark Lady of the Sith, who has
taught him that a strong will and noble purpose can hold
the evil excesses of the dark side at bay, bringing
peace and order to the galaxy–but at a price.
For there is one final test that Jacen must pass before
he can gain the awesome power of a true Sith Lord: He
must bring about the death of someone he values dearly.
What troubles Jacen isn’t whether he has the strength
to commit murder. He has steeled himself for that, and
worse if necessary. No, the question that troubles Jacen
is who the sacrifice should be.
As the strands of destiny draw ever more tightly
together in a galaxy-spanning web, the shocking answer
will shatter two families and cast a grim shadow over
the future.